The head of FIDE gives a master lesson at the Academy of Chess Darmen Sadvakasov

Kirsan Ilyumzhinov gave a master lesson for students of the Academy of Chess Darmen Sadvakasov (Astana), providing a professional advice on how to play chess. As a part of the charity simul, FIDE President played with students and shared his vision of the future of chess.

"There are many newly opened chess clubs and palaces. I think that chess soon will be included as a compulsory subject in schools. Chess have already been included in school curriculums in many countries of the world," said Ilyumzhinov.

"FIDE unites 188 countries of the world. 600 million people play chess today. We have set the goal to teach one billion people how to play chess by 2020. We have a slogan: ‘one billion players - one billion smart people’... We will achieve it with the help of teachers and parents," he added. "Chess helps to develop intellectually and achieve the best results in learning. I've also, like many others, started playing chess when I was five years old and, as you see, I became the President of Kalmykia and I am currently heading the International Chess Federation. Chess always helps in life. I played chess, tennis and was boxing in school at the same time," said the head of FIDE. He had also presented the children chess sets with his autograph in memory of the meeting. "On December 12, we had an excellent meeting with the President of FIDE Kirsan Ilyumzhinov, who gave the young chess players unforgettable impressions! Children and parents were very much satisfied. Kirsan Nikolaevich did not only answer the questions and told interesting stories but also started the simul by making several moves in each of the 25 games," reported the official website of the Academy. It is worth mentioning that the funds raised from the charity event will be sent to children's homes for purchase of chess boards, clocks, textbooks and to pay the coaches’ salaries.